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This week Michael asks: What's your value system? Jesus said, "Where your treasure, there will your heart be also." There is a parable in Luke 16 about an alleged "unjust steward." To understand this parable, we need to understand God's value system. There was a rich master who had a steward, a manager, who was accused of wasting his master's resources. The master ordered an audit of the steward's management of the master's affairs. The steward called each of his master's debtors and discounted each debtor's debt. When the debtors had paid less than the amount they originally owed, the master commended the steward for his actions. One interpretation of this parable is that the steward himself made up the difference between the original debts and the amount paid. The question is, "What is valuable to you?" The world considers the most valuable possessions to be the ones that last the longest. Diamonds and houses are valuable because they are lasting in this world. However, 2 Corinthians 4:18 says that which is seen (material possessions) are temporal, but that which is unseen is eternal. The reason the steward was commended was because he used his own wealth to gain lasting friendships and relationships. The steward valued the precious and valuable relationship with his master's customers even more than his own money. You may think that you're giving it away, however, you can never exhaust God's resources. The most important business relationships are personal. If you gain material things, they are temporal ... here today and gone tomorrow. According to one Pastor, he is not a fool who gives away what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose. Don't consider the cost, rather consider the value.
How does God see our prayer when we ask for a miracle of healing? What is the value of our physical bodies in the eyes of God? Are we seeking to feel good, or are we asking for God's desire? From the eternal perspective, our prayer is not my will be done, but rather, Thy will be done. The Word of God says, "Beloved, above all things I desire that thou may prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers." Our ultimate healing will be realized at the return of Jesus Christ, when this physical, mortal, and corruptible body shall have put on incorruption in a new resurrected spiritual body. Through the trials of this life, God values our fellowship with Him above the physical well being of our earthen vessel. According to Psalm 119, "Let me not enter into presumptuous sin." Presumptuous sin is to seek the blessing instead of the Blessor. Often the miracle in the gospels is not physical healing, but rather salvation through Jesus Christ. Jesus healed the sick and raised the dead. However, Jesus said, "the works that I do shall they do and greater works shall they do because I go unto my Father." The greater works is the miracle of the “new birth”. Salvation through Jesus' finished work on the cross and by His resurrection from the dead is the greatest miracle of all. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?
This week Michael asks: What's your value system? Jesus said, "Where your treasure, there will your heart be also." There is a parable in Luke 16 about an alleged "unjust steward." To understand this parable, we need to understand God's value system. There was a rich master who had a steward, a manager, who was accused of wasting his master's resources. The master ordered an audit of the steward's management of the master's affairs. The steward called each of his master's debtors and discounted each debtor's debt. When the debtors had paid less than the amount they originally owed, the master commended the steward for his actions. One interpretation of this parable is that the steward himself made up the difference between the original debts and the amount paid. The question is, "What is valuable to you?" The world considers the most valuable possessions to be the ones that last the longest. Diamonds and houses are valuable because they are lasting in this world. However, 2 Corinthians 4:18 says that which is seen (material possessions) are temporal, but that which is unseen is eternal. The reason the steward was commended was because he used his own wealth to gain lasting friendships and relationships. The steward valued the precious and valuable relationship with his master's customers even more than his own money. You may think that you're giving it away, however, you can never exhaust God's resources. The most important business relationships are personal. If you gain material things, they are temporal ... here today and gone tomorrow. According to one Pastor, he is not a fool who gives away what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose. Don't consider the cost, rather consider the value.
How does God see our prayer when we ask for a miracle of healing? What is the value of our physical bodies in the eyes of God? Are we seeking to feel good, or are we asking for God's desire? From the eternal perspective, our prayer is not my will be done, but rather, Thy will be done. The Word of God says, "Beloved, above all things I desire that thou may prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers." Our ultimate healing will be realized at the return of Jesus Christ, when this physical, mortal, and corruptible body shall have put on incorruption in a new resurrected spiritual body. Through the trials of this life, God values our fellowship with Him above the physical well being of our earthen vessel. According to Psalm 119, "Let me not enter into presumptuous sin." Presumptuous sin is to seek the blessing instead of the Blessor. Often the miracle in the gospels is not physical healing, but rather salvation through Jesus Christ. Jesus healed the sick and raised the dead. However, Jesus said, "the works that I do shall they do and greater works shall they do because I go unto my Father." The greater works is the miracle of the “new birth”. Salvation through Jesus' finished work on the cross and by His resurrection from the dead is the greatest miracle of all. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?
Let’s continue Michael’s message on “value”
on the next post.
In Christ, Brian
2 comments:
Great Post.
Thank you Pastor Gregg. I took your advice.
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